Articles - Fall 2006 - return to index
Where the Jobs Are: Service Sector Skyrockets
Helping is hip, which means that service work is plentiful now and in years to come. Of the 240,000 new jobs forecast to be generated statewide in the next decade, the vast majority will be service oriented, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
The top six sectors that offer many service-related jobs are:
- Business and professional
- Health and education
- Trade, transportation and utilities
- Leisure and hospitality
- Government
- Construction.
One of every three new jobs created nationwide in the coming years will be in either health care or social assistance, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Oregon, the trend is similar with a growing and aging population and longer life expectancies fueling the need for more workers in the thriving hospital industry as well as in ambulatory, nursing and residential care.
The business and professional industry, which includes architectural, engineering and legal services, provides many new high-wage job opportunities for Oregonians. With businesses relying more and more on computers, there will be a large need for workers trained in maintaining networks, managing databases, developing software and offering technology expertise. In addition, particularly in Oregon, there will be a growing need to fill jobs at the many recently opened customer call centers.
An increase in jobs in leisure and hospitality will stem from public participation in arts, entertainment, and recreation—reflecting rising incomes, leisure time, and awareness of the health benefits of physical fitness. Growth is expected to be brisk in the full-service restaurants segment in Oregon, in part due to the growing number of health-conscious seniors with time—and money—to spare. Most of the new jobs forecast for Oregon and the nation require specific skill sets or education. A bachelor’s or associate degree is critical to landing a job in the following 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations:
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Begin Your Future at Lane
Lane Community College offers many professional technical programs to train students for the millions of service sector jobs forecast in the coming decade. The programs include a variety of jobs—from accounting, administrative assistant and automotive technology to computer network operations, culinary arts, food service management, nursing, dental assisting and dental hygiene. Other choices include early childhood education, health records technology, hospitality management, nursing and respiratory care. Begin the path to a career with promise—visit 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu and choose “Technical Programs” from the Quick Links drop-down menu.
